U.S. patent number 6,549,133 [Application Number 09/765,718] was granted by the patent office on 2003-04-15 for remote transmitter and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tri-Tronics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kent D. Christensen, Timothy J. Crist, Timothy T Duncan.
United States Patent |
6,549,133 |
Duncan , et al. |
April 15, 2003 |
Remote transmitter and method
Abstract
A portable dog-training transmitter unit for controlling remote
collar-mounted receiver/stimulus units includes first, second, and
third switches for causing corresponding transmitted stimulus
control signals to be recognized by corresponding first, second, or
third receiver/stimulus units. A multiple-position switch sets the
use of transmitted codes that control the amplitudes of stimulus
signals produced by the recognizing receiver/stimulus unit. The
transmitter unit is supported in a holster that is pivotally
supported by a belt clip through the use of a pivot pin that is
pivotally retained in a receiving slot of the belt clip. The
transmitter unit includes a controller which polls the states of
the various switches to produce a digital signal that is shaped by
a buffer circuit, FM modulated, preamplified, and coupled by a
simplified matching network to the input of a power amplifier. A
single pi matching network is coupled to match an output of the
power amplifier to an antenna of the transmitter unit.
Inventors: |
Duncan; Timothy T (Tucson,
AZ), Crist; Timothy J. (Tucson, AZ), Christensen; Kent
D. (Tucson, AZ) |
Assignee: |
Tri-Tronics, Inc. (Tucson,
AZ)
|
Family
ID: |
25074300 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/765,718 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/573.3;
119/719; 119/720; 119/859; 119/908 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
15/021 (20130101); Y10S 119/908 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
15/00 (20060101); A01K 15/02 (20060101); G08B
023/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;119/720,719,859,908
;340/539,573.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"Superdog Electronic Dog Trainer Series", EDT100, EDT102, EDT200;
EDT202, EDT300 and EDT302, D. T. Systems, Inc., Dallas, Texas, 5
pages. .
"dogtra 250 Digital System", Dog Training Systems, SOS Co., Inc.,
Fountain Valley, California, 2 pages. .
"Introducing a New Breed of Tri-Tronics Electronic Dog Training
Equipment", Transmitter Holster, Tri-Tronics, Tucson, Arizona, 2
pages..
|
Primary Examiner: Pope; Daryl
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cahill, von Hellens & Glazer
P.L.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Transmitter circuitry for a portable dog-training transmitter
unit including first, second, and third switches for controlling
first, second, and third functions, respectively, represented by
stimulus control signals to be transmitted, and a multiple-position
detent switch for setting the amplitudes of the stimulus signals to
be transmitted, the transmitter circuitry including: i. a
controller having a plurality of inputs coupled to the first,
second, and third pushbutton switches and the thumbwheel detent
switch, the controller including a first output conducting digital
data representative of the states of the first, second, and third
pushbutton switches and the thumbwheel detent switch; ii. a buffer
circuit having an input coupled to the first output of the
controller for shaping pulses constituting the digital data; iii.
an FM modulator having an input coupled to an output of the buffer,
for performing the function of modulating the carrier with the
desired digital data; iv. an FM preamplifier having an input
coupled to an output of the FM modulator, for performing the
function of buffering an oscillator and amplifying a signal
produced by the FM modulator for use in a subsequent stage; v. a
matching network having an input coupled to an output of the FM
preamplifier; vi. a power amplifier having an input coupled to an
output of the matching network; and vii. a single pi matching
network having an input coupled to an output of the power amplifier
and an output coupled to the antenna.
2. The transmitter circuitry of claim 1 wherein the controller
includes a switch polling program, and executes the switch polling
program in response to depressing of any of the first, second, and
third pushbutton switches to determine the states of the first,
second, and third pushbutton switches and the thumbwheel detent
switch.
3. The transmitter circuitry of claim 2 wherein the buffer circuit
includes a first transistor having a first electrode coupled to a
first reference voltage conductor, a second electrode coupled to an
output of the buffer circuit and to one terminal of a load device,
and a control electrode coupled by a resistor to the first output
of the controller.
4. The transmitter circuitry of claim 1 wherein the matching
network includes a capacitor coupled between an output of the FM
preamplifier and an input of the power amplifier.
5. The transmitter circuitry of claim 4 wherein the matching
network also includes an inductor coupled between the output of the
matching network and the first reference voltage conductor.
6. The transmitter circuitry of claim 1 wherein the single pi
matching network includes a first capacitor coupled between the
output of the power amplifier and the first reference voltage
conductor, an inductor coupled between the output of the power
amplifier and a first node, a second capacitor coupled between the
first node and the first reference voltage conductor, a third
capacitor coupled between the first node and the output of the
single pi matching network, and the resistor coupled between the
output of the single pi matching network and the first reference
voltage conductor.
7. The transmitter circuitry of claim 1 wherein the controller is
configured to cause the first and second pushbutton switches, when
depressed, to produce different corresponding stimulus intensity
levels to be produced by the collar-mounted receiver stimulus
unit.
8. The transmitter circuitry of claim 7 wherein the first
pushbutton switch, when depressed, causes a continuous stimulus
intensity level of amplitude determined by the setting of the
thumbwheel detent switch to be produced by the collar-mounted
receiver/stimulus unit for as long as the first pushbutton switch
remains depressed, up to a predetermined maximum duration.
9. The transmitter circuitry of claim 8 wherein the second
pushbutton switch, when depressed, causes a predetermined stimulus
intensity level of a predetermined duration to be produced by the
collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit.
10. The transmitter circuitry of claim 9 wherein the third
pushbutton, when depressed, causes the collar-mounted
receiver/stimulus unit to produce an audible sound.
11. The transmitter circuitry of claim 1 wherein the controller is
configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit different
first, second, and third address codes recognizable by first,
second, and third remote collar-mounted receiver/stimulus units,
respectively, in response to depressing of the first, second, and
third pushbutton switches, respectively.
12. The transmitter circuitry of claim 11 wherein the transmitter
unit, in response to depressing of one of the first, second, and
third pushbutton switches, causes a continuous stimulus intensity
level of amplitude determined by the setting of the thumbwheel
detent switch to be produced by the one of the first, second, and
third remote collar-mounted receiver/stimulus units corresponding
to the depressed one of the first, second, or third pushbutton
switches for as long as that one of the first, second, and third
pushbutton switches remains depressed, up to a predetermined
maximum duration.
13. A portable dog-training transmitter unit for transmitting
stimulus control signals to a remote collar-mounted
receiver/stimulus unit on a dog, comprising: (a) a rectangular
housing having opposed the front and rear surfaces, opposed right
side and left side surfaces, and opposed top and bottom surfaces;
(b) an antenna extending upward from the top surface; (c) a control
panel area on the upper right portion of the front surface; (d)
first, second, and third pushbutton switches disposed in the
control panel area connected to control first, second, and third
functions, respectively, represented by stimulus control signals
transmitted by the transmitter unit; (e) a multiple-position
thumbwheel detent switch disposed in an upper right corner portion
of the control panel area for setting the amplitudes of stimulus
signals produced by the collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit.
14. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 13 wherein
the first, second, and third pushbutton switches and the thumbwheel
detent switch have surfaces which are approximately flush with the
surface of the control panel area.
15. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 14 wherein
the thumbwheel detent switch is disposed in a recess in an upper
right portion of the control panel area.
16. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 13 wherein
the thumbwheel detent switch includes six repeatable positions
reliably and repeatably determining six selectable amplitude
settings of stimulus signals produced by the collar-mounted
receiver/stimulus unit.
17. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 13 wherein
the height of the housing is approximately 4.80 inches, the width
of the housing is approximately 1.85 inches, and the thickness of
the housing is approximately 1.25 inches.
18. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 17 wherein
the antenna has a length of approximately 3.0 inches.
19. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 13 wherein
the housing includes transmitter circuitry including i. a
controller having a plurality of inputs coupled to the first,
second, and third pushbutton switches and the thumbwheel detent
switch the controller including a first output conducting digital
data representative of the states of the first, second, and third
pushbutton switches in the thumbwheel detent switch; ii. a buffer
circuit having an input coupled to the first output of the
controller for shaping pulses constituting the digital data; iii.
an FM modulator having an input coupled to an output of the buffer,
for performing the function of modulating the carrier with the
desired digital data; iv. an FM preamplifier having an input
coupled to an output of the FM modulator, for performing the
function of the buffering an oscillator and amplifying a signal
produced by the FM modulator for use in a subsequent stage; v. a
matching network having an input coupled to an output of the FM
preamplifier; vi. a power amplifier having an input coupled to an
output of the matching network; and vii. a single pi matching
network having an input coupled to an output of the power amplifier
and an output coupled to the antenna.
20. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 19 wherein
the controller includes a switch polling program, and executes the
switch polling program in response to depressing of any of the
first, second, and third pushbutton switches to determine the
states of the first, second, and third pushbutton switches and the
thumbwheel detent switch.
21. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 19 wherein
the buffer circuit includes a first transistor having a first
electrode coupled to a first reference voltage conductor, a second
electrode coupled to an output of the buffer circuit and to one
terminal of a load device, and the control electrode coupled by a
resistor to the first output of the controller.
22. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 19 wherein
the matching network includes a capacitor coupled between an output
of the FM preamplifier and the output of the FM preamplifier.
23. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 22 wherein
the matching network also includes an inductor coupled between the
output of the matching network and the first reference voltage
conductor.
24. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 19 wherein
the single pi matching network includes a first capacitor coupled
between the output of the power amplifier and the first reference
voltage conductor, an inductor coupled between the output of the
power amplifier and a first node, a second capacitor coupled
between the first node and the first reference voltage conductor, a
third capacitor coupled between the first node and the output of
the single pi matching network, and the resistor coupled between
the output of the single pi matching network and the first
reference voltage conductor.
25. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 13 wherein
the controller is configured to cause the first and second
pushbutton switches, when depressed, to produce different
corresponding stimulus intensity levels to be produced by the
collar-mounted receiver stimulus unit.
26. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 25 wherein
the first pushbutton switch, when depressed, causes a continuous a
stimulus intensity level of amplitude determined by the setting of
the thumbwheel detent switch to be produced by the collar-mounted
receiver/stimulus unit for as long as the first pushbutton switch
remains depressed, up to a predetermined maximum duration.
27. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 26 wherein
the second pushbutton switch, when depressed, causes a
predetermined stimulus intensity level of a predetermined duration
to be produced by the collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit.
28. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 27 wherein
the third pushbutton switch, when depressed, causes the
collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit to produce an audible
sound.
29. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 19 wherein
the controller is configured to cause the transmitter unit to
transmit different first, second, and third address codes
recognizable by first, second, and third remote collar-mounted
receiver/stimulus units, respectively, in response to depressing of
the first, second, and third pushbutton switches, respectively.
30. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 29 wherein
the transmitter unit, in response to depressing of one of the
first, second, and third pushbutton switches, causes a continuous
stimulus intensity level of amplitude determined by the setting of
the thumbwheel detent switch to be produced by the one of the
first, second, and third remote collar-mounted receiver/stimulus
units corresponding to the depressed one of the first, second, or
third pushbutton switches for as long as that one of the first,
second, and third pushbutton switches remains depressed, up to a
predetermined maximum duration.
31. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 13
including a holster in which the housing is removably supported, a
pivot pin rigidly attached to a rear surface of the holster, and a
belt clip in which the pivot pin is pivotally retained.
32. The portable dog-training transmitter unit of claim 13
including a holster in which the housing is removably supported, a
pivot pin rigidly attached to a rear surface of the holster, and a
clip in which the pivot pin is pivotally retained.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to small, portable transmitters used for dog
training by transmitting stimulation control signals to
collar-mounted receivers on one or more dogs being trained, and
more particularly to a system that (1) provides remote control of
the amplitude of stimulus pulses applied to electrodes which are
maintained in contact with the skin of the dog (s), and (2) also
provides remote control of the amplitude of open circuit output
voltages applied between stimulus electrodes (i.e., when the
electrodes are not in electrical contact with the skin of the dog
(s)).
A basic requirement of a remote training device of the general type
including stimulus intensity that is controllable by a remote
transmitter is that each remotely selected intensity level must
reliably and consistently apply the same electrical stimulus level
to the animal being trained. If this requirement is not met,
inconsistent stimulus levels received by the animal often causes
confusion to the animal, which interferes with the training
process.
A shortcoming of some prior remote training systems having remotely
selectable control of the amplitude of the stimulus signal between
the skin-contacting electrodes is that for the lower values of the
intensity settings, neither the open circuit nor the "loaded"
electrode voltages applied between the contacting electrodes are
high enough to cause effective electrical contact of the electrodes
with the animals' skin. The animal does not feel and therefore does
not respond to the intended stimulus for lower selected intensity
control settings. (A trainer observing the lack of response then is
likely to increase the selected stimulus level on the remote
transmitter until the animal responds. At that point, the stimulus
level actually felt by the animal may suddenly be much higher than
is justified by its behavior and may be far too great, causing
confusion or fright of the animal which, of course, is
counterproductive.) The foregoing problems may be caused by a
combination of the dryness of the animals' skin, the tightness of
the collar pressing the electrodes against the animals' skin, and
various other conditions that cause or contribute to ineffective
electrical contact of the electrodes with the animals' skin. The
only known reliable way of nevertheless ensuring electrical contact
of the electrodes to the animals' skin is to ensure that the open
circuit output voltage produced by the secondary winding of the
output transformer in the receiver is high enough to arc across any
gap or insulative barrier between the electrodes and the animals'
skin.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,482, by Gerald J. Gonda and
Gregory J. Farkas, issued Feb. 7, 1989, and incorporated herein by
reference, and commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,428, by
Gregory J. Farkas, issued Oct. 8, 1991, also incorporated herein by
reference, disclose prior remote animal training systems in which
intensity of electrical stimulus is remotely controlled by causing
the receiver circuits to produce various stimulus waveforms of
constant amplitude and selectable duration and/or frequency. The
high open circuit stimulus voltage needed is achieved independently
of the intensity level selected. The devices disclosed in these
patents provide reliable electrical contact of the electrodes to
the skin of the animal being trained by providing sufficiently high
open circuit voltages to ensure that even low levels of stimulation
produced by controlling the output pulse widths and repetition
rates are reliably felt by the animal.
Because of the lack of a wide range of nearly immediately
selectable stimulus levels in the prior art remote training
devices, professional trainers have had to plan particular training
sessions so as to include only activities and circumstances likely
to cause dog behaviors which would require stimulus levels within
the range determined by the pluggable intensity-level-setting
resistors and/or the resistive electrodes on the collar mounted
receiver unit. Then, if unexpected behavior or unexpected
circumstances occurred during the training session, the trainer
often was not able to immediately select a high, effective stimulus
level. In such a case, an opportunity for effective training was
lost, and the training process may have been set back as a result
of inconsistent and/or inappropriate stimulus. That problem is
solved by the system disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.
6,170,439, entitled "REMOTE CONTROLLED ANIMAL TRAINING SYSTEM", by
Duncan et al., Ser. No. 09/339,491, issued Jan. 9, 2001,
incorporated herein by reference. That patent discloses that even
though the circuitry disclosed in the foregoing patents is capable
of providing the stimulus voltage with a very wide range of
selectable pulse widths and pulse frequencies, the physiology of
the dogs being trained is such that the effective range of remotely
selectable stimulus that can be achieved by adjusting only the
pulse widths and repetition rates of the electrode pulses is much
less than is desirable for a wide range of training conditions. The
foregoing commonly assigned patent discloses a system which
provides remotely controlled stimulus levels that can be promptly
changed to any desired level within a very broad range so that a
trainer can immediately provide stimulus levels appropriate to any
dog behavior likely to occur in any environmental circumstance
likely to occur during any training session.
One of the assignees prior products, Tritronics model A270, allows
a trainer to transmit separate stimulus signal/commands from a
single handheld transmitter unit to separate remote collar-mounted
receiver units on separate dogs. The transmitter unit includes
separate pushbutton switches, which, when depressed, cause the
transmitter unit to transmit separate stimulus/commands signals to
the separate collar-mounted receiver units, respectively.
Dog trainers frequently have the dog on a leash or check cord, or
use a "heeling" stick, any of the which requires the use of one
hand. However, the trainer often needs to use one hand or even two
hands to provide hand signal training of the dog during the
training session. During hunting sessions, a dog owner or trainer
is likely to carry a gun, two-way radio, binoculars or spotting
telescopes and/or the like. It would be very advantageous to a dog
trainer and/or a hunter working with a hunting dog to have a remote
dog-training transmitter which is easily operable with minimal use
of only one hand.
There is an unmet need for a dog training system which reliably
solves the above described problems, and nevertheless is much
smaller and less costly than the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,170,439.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved, small, low-cost, low-power transmitter unit which is
adaptable to transmit multiple stimulus control signals to a single
collar-mounted receiver unit of a single dog, or alternatively, to
transmit separate, independent of stimulus control signals to
multiple collar-mounted receivers mounted, respectively, on
separate dogs.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved,
low-power transmitter unit which is adaptable to transmit multiple
level stimulus control signals to a single collar-mounted receiver
unit of a single dog, or alternatively, to transmit separate,
independent continuous stimulus control signals to multiple
collar-mounted receivers mounted, respectively, on different dogs,
and which is smaller and less costly than the system disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,439.
It is another object of the invention to provide a small, low-cost,
low-power transmitter unit which can be easily deployed to send
stimulus control signals to a collar-mounted receiver unit mounted
on a dog without the need for the trainer to remove the transmitter
from its holster or to remove the holster from a belt clip
supporting the holster.
It is another object of the invention to provide a small, low-cost,
low-power transmitter unit which can be easily deployed by a dog
trainer to send stimulus control signals to a collar-mounted
receiver unit on a dog, with minimal need for the trainer to use
either hand to operate the transmitter unit to transmit a stimulus
control signals to the collar-mounted receiver unit.
Briefly described, and in accordance with one embodiment thereof,
the invention provides a portable dog-training transmitter unit (1)
for transmitting stimulus control signals to a remote
collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit (10) on a dog. The
transmitter unit a rectangular housing (2) having opposed the front
and rear surfaces, opposed right side and left side surfaces, and
opposed top and bottom surfaces and an antenna (3) extending upward
from the top surface. A control panel area (2A) is provided on the
upper right portion of the front surface, and first (4), second
(5), and third (6) pushbutton switches are disposed in the control
panel area (2A) to control first, second, and third functions,
respectively, represented by stimulus control signals transmitted
by the transmitter unit (1). A multiple-position thumbwheel detent
switch (7) is disposed in an upper right corner portion of the
control panel area (2A) for setting the amplitudes of stimulus
signals produced by the collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit. The
first (4), second (5), and third (6) pushbutton switches and the
thumbwheel detent switch (7) have surfaces which are approximately
flush with the surface of the control panel area (2A). The
thumbwheel detent switch (7) is disposed in a recess (7A) in an
upper right portion of the control panel area (2D). Transmitter
circuitry in the housing includes a controller (15) having a
plurality of inputs coupled to the first (4), second (5), and third
(6) pushbutton switches and the thumbwheel detent switch (7) the
controller including a first output (16) conducting digital data
representative of the states of the first, second, and third
pushbutton switches in the thumbwheel detent switch. A buffer
circuit (17) Includes an input coupled to the first output (16) of
the controller for shaping pulses constituting the digital data. In
FM modulator (19) Has an input coupled to an output (18) of the
buffer, for performing the function of modulating the 27.045 MHZ
carrier with the desired digital data. An FM preamplifier (22) has
an input coupled to an output (20) of the FM modulator, for
performing the function of buffering the oscillator and amplifying
the signal for use in the output stage. A matching network (24) has
an input coupled to an output (23) of the FM preamplifier. A power
amplifier (26) has an input coupled to an output (25) of the
matching network. A single pi matching network (28) has been an
input coupled to an output (27) of the power amplifier and an
output (63) coupled to the antenna (3). The controller (15)
includes a switch polling program, and executes the switch polling
program in response to depressing of any pushbutton switch for
setting of a thumbwheel switch to determine the states of the
first, second, and third pushbutton switches and the thumbwheel
detent switch. The controller (15) can be configured to cause the
first (4) and second (5) pushbutton switches, when depressed, to
produce different corresponding stimulus intensity levels to be
produced by the collar-mounted receiver stimulus unit (10), wherein
the first pushbutton switch (4), when depressed, causes a
continuous a stimulus intensity level of amplitude determined by
the setting of the thumbwheel detent switch (7) to be produced by
the collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit (10) for as long as the
first pushbutton switch (4) remains depressed, up to a
predetermined maximum duration, and the second pushbutton switch
(4), when depressed, causes a predetermined stimulus intensity
level of a predetermined duration to be produced by the
collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit (10). Alternatively, the
controller (15) can be configured to cause the transmitter unit (1)
to transmit different first, second, and third address codes
recognizable by first, second, and third remote collar-mounted
receiver/stimulus units, respectively, in response to depressing of
the first (4), second (5), and third (6) pushbutton switches,
respectively. In one embodiment, the housing (2) is removably
supported, a pivot pin (67) rigidly attached to a rear surface of
the holster, and a belt clip 68 in which the pivot pin (67) is
pivotally retained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable transmitter unit of
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the transmitter of FIG. 1
in a holster pivotally supported by a belt clip.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the circuitry included in the
transmitter unit of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating microcontroller 15 and user input
circuitry 13 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the buffer circuit 17 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the FM modulator 19 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the pre-amplifier 22 and matching
network 24 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the class C power amplifier 26 of
FIG. 3.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the matching network 28 of FIG.
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, transmitter 1 includes a housing 2 and an
antenna 3 attached to the top of housing 2. Housing 1 includes a
"control panel" area 2A on its front face including button switches
4, 5, and 6. A seven-position rotary detent thumbwheel switch 7 is
positioned in a recess 7A a in the upper right corner of control
panel area 2A and housing 2, SO that the knurled edge of the
disk-shaped thumbwheel switch 7 can be rotated by the trainer's
thumb as the trainer's fingers grip the body of housing 2. Use of
the detent switch ensures that each of the six stimulus signal
amplitudes controlled by the thumbwheel switch 7 is precisely
repeatable. It is important that the trainer be able to know that a
certain position of thumbwheel switch 7 always produces the same
amplitude of the resulting stimulus signal produced by the remote
collar-mounted receiver/stimulus unit. Preferably, the front faces
of thumbwheel switch 7 and push button switches 4, 5, and 6 are
approximately flush with the surface of control panel area 2A. A
light-emitting diode 8 indicates when rf data is being transmitted.
Light emitting diode 8 also functions as an indicator or mark on
the control panel surface area 2A with which the intensity setting
marks on the face of the thumbwheel switch are aligned, so as to
indicate the present intensity setting. Transmitter 1 is easily
held in one hand by a trainer, as the length, width, and
thicknesses of housing 2 are only 4.80 inches, 1.85 inches, and
1.25 inches, respectively. Also, The trainer usually holds the
transmitter housing 2 so that thumbwheel switch 7 and all three
switches 4, 5, 6 are all operated with his/her thumb, if the
trainer is right-handed. Switches 4, 5, 6 are located along an arc
so the same area of the trainer's thumb naturally contacts the
three switches 4, 5, and 6.
In a first configuration, wherein transmitter 1 transmits signals
3A to only a single collar-mounted receiver 10 on a single dog, if
the trainer to presses the lower push button switch 4, this causes
the collar-mounted receiver to apply a continuous stimulus level
through the electrodes to the skin of the dog's neck as long as
pushbutton switch 4 is depressed (up to a maximum amount of time).
The next switch, pushbutton switch 5, if depressed by the trainer,
causes the remote collar-mounted receiver unit to apply a fixed,
predetermined interval of stimulation, rather than a continuous
level of stimulation, to the neck of the dog. The interval or
duration of the stimulation applied in response to depressing of
pushbutton switch 5 is independent of how long pushbutton switch 5
is depressed. In either case, the amplitude of the stimulation
pulses applied by the electrodes to the neck of the dog is the
amplitude selected by thumbwheel switch 7.
Pushbutton switch 6, if depressed by the trainer, causes the remote
collar-mounted receiver unit to the emit an audible tone which is
recognizable to the to the dog being trained.
Transmitter 1 can be reconfigured by a jumper connection so that
each of pushbutton switches 4, 5, and 6, if depressed by the
trainer, transmits a stimulus command to a different corresponding
collar-mounted receiver unit mounted on the necks of one, two, or
three dogs, respectively. The stimulation is applied continuously
to the dog corresponding to the depressed pushbutton switch 4,5 or
6 for as long as the selected switch is depressed (up to a maximum
amount of time). Preferably, the colors of pushbutton switches 4,5
and 6 are color-coded relative to the colors of the collars of
corresponding receiver units mounted on the necks of the multiple
dogs.
Referring to FIG. 2, a housing 2 of transmitter 1 is shown in a
holster 65. Holster 65 includes a cutout 65A that allows the
trainer to access to pushbutton switches 4, 5, and 6 and to
thumbwheel switch 7. A top flap 65B of holster 65 has a Velcro
connection on its bottom surface. A matching Velcro connection is
provided on the top surface of a second flap 65C, to retain the
body 2 of transmitter 1 within holster 65. Holster 65 is pivotally,
removably mounted on a conventional belt clip 68 by means of a
pivot pin 67 extending horizontally outward from a mounting plate
66 attached to the vertical rear surface of holster 65.
A trainer therefore can conveniently the press one or more of
pushbutton switches 4, 5, and 6 and rotate intensity selection
control thumbwheel switch 7 without necessarily removing
transmitter 1 and holster 65 from belt clip 68.
The trainer also can pivot transmitter 1 and holster 65 about pivot
pin 67 to orient antenna 3 in a preferred direction, if desired.
The pivot pin 67 includes a shaft 67A and retaining head 67B which
retains holster 65 securely in a slot 68A belt clip 68.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the circuitry enclosed within
housing 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the transmitter circuitry 11 in
housing 2 of transmitter 1 includes a microcontroller 15, which can
be a commercially available PIC16C621C microcontroller which
includes a microprocessor, memory, and input/output interface
circuitry. If the dog trainer selects one of the available six
intensity level settings by means of thumbwheel switch 7, and then
depresses one or more of pushbutton switches 4, 5 and 6, then
controller 15 produces a serial digital data output stream
representing a function code on conductor 16. If transmitter 1 is
configured (by a suitable jumper connection) to communicate with
multiple collar-mounted receivers on different dogs, the digital
output stream also includes an address that must be recognized by
the intended collar-mounted receiver before it can respond to the
received function code. The function code, when received by the
collar-mounted receiver unit actuates the selected stimulation
level to be produced by the selected collar-mounted receiver.
However, if transmitter 1 is configured for communication only with
a single collar-mounted receiver, then the function code also
determines whether continuous stimulation corresponding to
depressing of pushbutton 4 or a predetermined duration of
stimulation corresponding to depressing of pushbutton 5 is to be
applied by the single collar-mounted receiver to the neck of the
single dog. Furthermore, if transmitter 1 is configured for
communication only with a single dog, the function code also
determines whether the audible tone function of the receiver should
be actuated, in accordance with whether or not pushbutton switch 6
has been depressed.
Still referring to FIG. 3, digital data on conductor 16 is provided
as an input to a buffer circuit 17. Buffer circuit 17 produces an
output signal on conductor 18 which is applied to the input of an
FM modulator circuit 19, which has a center frequency of 27.045
MHZ, with a + or -8 kilohertz deviation. The output of FM modulator
19 is applied by conductor 20 to the input of an FM preamplifier
22. The output of preamplifier 22 is applied by conductor 23 to the
input of a matching network 24. The output of matching network 24
is supplied by a conductor 25 to the input of a class C power
amplifier 26, the output of which is applied by conductor 27 to the
input of a single Pi matching network 28. The output of single Pi
matching network 28 is applied by conductor 63 to antenna 3.
FIG. 4 illustrates the connections of controller 15 to the user
input circuitry 13 including pushbutton switches 4,5,6 and
thumbwheel switch 7. FIG. 4 also illustrates the connections of a
regulated supply voltage V.sub.DD to the positive supply voltage
terminal of controller 15 to light emitting diode 8, which appears
on the control panel of transmitter 1 in FIG. 1. One terminal of
each of pushbutton switches 4,5,6 is coupled by a resistor to a
corresponding input of controller 15. Similarly, each of the six
terminals of thumbwheel switch 7 is connected by a corresponding
resistor to a corresponding input, respectively, of controller 15.
Controller 15 "awakens" from a "sleep" condition and produces a
signal PWRON on conductor 29 in response to sensing the depressing
of any one of the pushbutton switches 4, 5 or 6. The signal PWRON
then provides power to all of the rf stages and thereby enables
transmitter unit 1 to operate.
Controller 15 operates to detect the state of each of the switch
inputs by executing a polling routine and then producing a serial
digital data output stream that includes function codes and address
information to be transmitted to one or more collar-mounted
receivers to enable them to generate the level of stimulation
represented by the function code. Note that this technique replaces
a prior technique in which a controller detects the switch inputs
using a reset interrupt signal to reset the controller, causing it
to read the states of the actuated switches. The improved polling
routine technique avoids problems associated with driving the reset
interrupt function of the controller from two different stimuli,
specifically, the excessive amount of time required to execute
interrupt subroutines. Use of the polling routine was found to
allow use of simpler programming of microcontroller 15, use of
simpler circuit design, and substantially faster response of the
circuitry to depressing of one of the pushbutton switches 4, 5, or
6.
Referring to FIG. 5, buffer 17 includes an NPN transistor 30 having
its base coupled by resistor 31 and to the output 16 of controller
15. The emitter of transistor 30 is connected to ground, and its
collector is connected by conductor 18 to one terminal of a
resistor 32. The other terminal of resistor 32 is connected to
conductor 33, on which a switched battery voltage is applied. Note
that the simple buffer circuit shown in FIG. 5 replaces a much more
complex prior multistage pulse shaper circuit including two
operational amplifiers, 4 capacitors, and nine resistors.
Referring to FIG. 6, FM modulator 19 includes an input connected by
conductor 18 to the output of buffer 17. Conductor 18 is connected
to the cathode of a varactor diode 35, which functions as a
variable capacitor, having an anode connected to ground. Varying
the voltage across varactor diode 35 allows FM modulation of the
carrier signal. Conductor 18 also is connected one terminal of a
crystal 37, the other terminal of which is connected by conductor
34 to the base of an NPN transistor 40 and also to the junction
between a resistor 39 and a resistor 38. A resistor 38 is coupled
to ground, and resistor 39 is coupled by conductor 29 to the PWRON
signal produced by controller 15. The emitter of the transistor 40
is coupled by conductor 71 to one terminal of resistor 41 and to
the junction between capacitors 42 and 43. The other terminal of
resistor 41 is connected to ground. Conductor 71 is coupled by
capacitor 43 to ground and is coupled by capacitor 42 to conductor
70. Conductor 70 is connected to one terminal of resistor 45, one
terminal of inductor 44, and the collector of transistor 40. The
other terminal of inductor 44 is connected to the regulated supply
voltage V.sub.DD. The other terminal of resistor 45 is connected to
conductor 20.
FIG. 7 shows the circuitry for FM preamplifier 22 and matching
network 24 of FIG. 3. FM preamplifier 22 includes a capacitor 46
having one terminal connected by conductor 20 to the output of FM
modulator 19 and another terminal connected by conductor 49 to the
junction between the resistors 47 and 48 and to the base of an NPN
transistor 50. A second terminal of resistor 48 is connected to
ground. A second terminal of resistor 47 is connected to conductor
33, on which the switched battery voltage is produced. The emitter
of transistor 50 is connected to ground, and its collector is
connected by conductor 23 to one terminal of inductor 51 and to one
terminal of capacitor 52. The second terminal of inductor 51 is
connected to switched battery voltage conductor 33. The second
terminal of capacitor 52 is connected by conductor 25 to one
terminal of inductor 53, the other terminal of which is connected
to ground. Note that the use of capacitor 52 (which may have a
value of 0.01 microfarads) as shown in matching network 24 replaced
the use of a 4:1 stepdown transformer in a prior analogous circuit.
Capacitor 52 requires far less space and is far less costly than
the prior 4:1 stepdown transformer. Nevertheless, the use of
capacitor 52 was found to accomplish the same benefit as the 4:1
stepdown transformer in transmitter 1.
Referring to FIG. 8, conductor 25 also is connected to the input of
a class C power amplifier 26. Conductor 25 is connected to the base
of an NPN transistor 56 having its emitter connected to ground and
its collector connected by conductor 27 to one terminal of inductor
57. The other terminal of inductor 57 is connected to the battery
voltage V.sub.BATT produced by a conventional nine volt
battery.
Referring to FIG. 9, single pi matching network 28 includes an
input connected by conductor 27 to the output of class C power
amplifier 26. The matching network 28 includes a capacitor 58
connected between conductor 27 and ground. An inductor 59 is
connected between conductors 27 and 61. A capacitor 60 is connected
between conductor 61 and ground. A capacitor 62 is connected
between conductors 61 and 63. A resistor 64 is connected between
conductor 63 and ground. Conductor 63 conducts the output of
matching network 28 to antenna 3. Note that single pi matching
network 28 provides a high-pass filtering characteristic which
matches the high impedance of antenna 3. This is in contrast to a
prior matching network which required use of a much larger, much
more costly double pi network including three inductors, rather
than one inductor, to match the high impedance of antenna 3 to the
output of power amplifier 26. A 40 percent reduction in space
required by matching network 28 is accomplished by the single pi
circuit shown in FIG. 9.
Transmitter 1 can be configured as either a multi-dog,
single-stimulus-function transmitter or as a single-dog,
multi-stimulus-function transmitter simply by either providing or
not providing a jumper 54 connected to an input of microcontroller
15. Such a jumper is shown as switch 54 in FIG. 4. Microcontroller
15 is programmed to read the state of the input to which the jumper
54 is connected or not connected and determines whether to operate
in a single-dog, multi-stimulus-mode or a multi-dog,
single-stimulus-mode.
While the invention has been described with reference to several
particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be
able to make the various modifications to the described embodiments
of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope
of the invention. It is intended that all elements or steps which
are insubstantially different or perform substantially the same
function in substantially the same way to achieve the same result
as what is claimed are within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *